Effect of Sorghum Tannin on the Performance of Broiler Chicks and their Carcass Characteristics

Abstract

A feeding trial was carried out to study the effects of sorghum
tannin on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks.
Seven experimental diets were formulated using zero tannin maize as
control and six sorghum grain varieties, each two with low, medium and
high tannin level. Diets were fed to 196 unsexed Hubbard commercial
broilers chicks for 5 weeks. Low tannin Safra had the best amino acids
composition followed by high tannin sorghum varieties. Broilers
performance and carcass characteristics showed inconsistent trend as the
level of tannin increased, since the birds consuming sorghums with high
tannin content gave better performance than their counterparts fed
medium tannin. In addition, the results showed that sorghum varieties
with the same tannin level gave different effects on broiler performance
and carcass characteristics. These results indicate that, tannin level may
not be the sole factor affecting nutritional quality of sorghum grains; other
factors may be involved.